Biochemical intestinal parameters in germ-free minipigs and rats and in ex-germ-free minipigs and rats monoassociated with Escherichia coli. [Erratum: 2005, v. 52, no. 5, p. 262.]

• Published in: Journal of veterinary medicine. Series A Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 109 - 113
• Main Authors: Cardona, M.E, Kozakova, H, Collinder, E, Persson, A.K, Midtvedt, T, Norin, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin, Germany Blackwell Verlag GmbH 01.04.2005; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: animal disease models; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Bacteria; biochemical mechanisms; Biochemistry; cholesterol; Cholesterol - metabolism; coprostanol; Digestive System - enzymology; Digestive System - metabolism; Digestive System - microbiology; Dipeptides - metabolism; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia infections; Fatty Acids, Volatile - metabolism; Female; germ-free animals; Germ-Free Life; glycine (amino acid); Hogs; human diseases; immune response; immunity; intestines; Large intestine; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; miniature swine; nonpathogenic strains; Rats; Rodents; short chain fatty acids; Small intestine; Swine; Swine, Miniature - metabolism; Trypsin - metabolism; urobilinogen; Urobilinogen - metabolism
• ISSN: 0931-184X; 1865-1674; 1439-0442; 1865-1682
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2005.00697.x

Intestinal contents of newborn and young germ-free minipigs and germ-free rats were investigated for the following biochemical parameters - conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, degradation of beta-aspartylglycine, level of tryptic activity, formation of urobilinogen and the profile of short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, germ-free minipigs and germ-free rats were monoassociated with non-pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli and were investigated for the same biochemical parameters. The conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, degradation of beta-aspartylglycine, tryptic activity and the short-chain fatty acid profile were similar to those found in previous studies in germ-free animals. Slightly higher amounts of urobilinogen than in the other species investigated so far were found in samples from germ-free and monoassociated minipigs. Except for the total amount of short-chain fatty acids in rats, monoassociation with E. coli did not alter any of the parameters either in the minipigs or in the rats.